John a



J. A. BENNETT. 'UNDE'RGARMBNT- Patented Aug (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. BENNETT, OE OOHOES, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JACOB A. BROOKS, OF SAME PLACE.

UNDERGARM ENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 503,520, dated August 15, 1893.

Application tiled J nly 18, 1892. Serial No. 440,366. (No model.)

T0 all wtont t may concern.

Beit known that I, JOHN A. BENNETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cohoes, in the county of Albany` and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Undergarments; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this speciiication.

My invention relates to garments or articles of wearing apparel, more particularly to that class of garments wherein are employed cords or tapes for drawing up a portion ofthe garment to make it tthe portion ot the body around which the same fits; and it has for its objects to so form the way or channel through which the cord or tape is run that the cord or tape will lie against the outside face of the garment below the edge next to which the cord or tape is applied, said way or channel having an open face to admit of the tape or cord being reached from the outside of the garment at close intervals so that when desired for any purpose said tape or cord can be drawn outward from the face of the garment to form one or more loops for service in any one of the many uses made of loops in articles of wearing apparel. This construction prevents the cord or tape from coming in contact with the body or with the garment beneath the garment provided with the invention inasmuch as the body of the garment having the invention applied thereto is between the cord or tape and said under garment and as a consequence the tape or cord can be adjusted with greater ease and facility than when allowed to come in contact with the under garment or with the moist body as there will be less friction than if it were allowed to pass through to the under side of the garment provided with the invention; furthermore it admits of the tape or cord being reached at close intervals so that loops can be formed where it is desired and so that the edge ofthe garment can be gathered within narrow limits without the necessity of gathering the same throughout its length; furthermore it strengthens the garment along the edge, and when the garment is of knitted goods prevents the same from being unduly stretched and pulled out of shape; and furthermore it presents an ornamental finish to the edge of the garment.

The foregoing are some of the objects in view, and to the accomplishment of the same and such other objects as may hereinafter appeal', the in vention consists in the construction hereinafter particularly described and then sought to be specifically defined by the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, and in which- Figure l is a perspective of a garment having my invention applied thereto; and Fig. 2 is a detail side elevation on an enlarged scale.

ln the drawings,l have represented the garment to which the invention is applied for purposes of illustration as a knitted garment, such, for instance, as a drawers body, although the invention may be applied to other garments.

Along the upper portion of the bodyA immediately below the top edge thereof in a zigzag line one or more cords or threads B are run which are fastened or tacked to the body of the garment throughout the length ofthe cords or threads at the points of divergence, for instance, as indicated at C, the cord or thread being loose or unsecured at t-he intermediate points so as to form a cross bar or stitch which will serve to hold in place against the face of the garment the gathering cord or tape D. I prefer to use two cords or threads B as illustrated, both of them being run in zig zag lines and across each other, as when so applied a stronger way or channel is formed and a more ornamental border formed and certain other advantages gained but the main feature of the invention would be employed by omitting one of said cords or threads. By running the cord or thread in a zig zag course and fastening or tacking the same at the points O of divergence the garment is braced and strengthened along the line of the cord or thread and at diagonally opposite points so that when there is any pull on the garment lengthwise of the cord or thread forming the way or chan- ICC nel the strain is distributed in diagonal lines and one point of fastening serves to stay the other fastening at the other diagonal point and as a consequence the garment is prevented from being pulled out of shape Where the cord or thread is run. By employing two threads or cords running in zig zag lines and across each other and fastening them at the points of divergence, the fastenings or tackings are brought opposite to each other so thatan additional stay is afforded.

By forming the Way or channel for the gathering cord or tape in the manner described, the Way or channel is brought directly against the face of the garment, and the body of the garment forms the rear portion of the way or channel which is closed and affords a comparatively smooth surface for the tape or cord to slide upon and prevents the same from coming in contact with the moist body or garment that may be Worn beneath the garment having this invention applied thereto. The construction also admits of the gathering cord or tape being reached at any one of numerous points close together so that when desired for any purpose, and as is often desirable, the cord or tape can be drawn out to form loops as indicated by the letters E as illustrated in the drawings. There may be formed as many of these loops as desired at the point or points Where the saine may be needed.

' Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim isl. A knit under-garment provided upon its face adjacent to an opening in the garment with a cord or thread extending across the garment in zig-zag lines and secured to the garment at points Where the diagonally eX- tending portions of the thread or cord diverge from each other to form a Way or channel and to stay the knitted fabric of the garment at diagonaliy opposite points adjacent to the opening therein, and a gathering cord or tape passing loosely through the Way formed as described and adapted to gather the garment, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. A knit under garment, having a Way or channel for a gathering cord or tape formed by a series of cords or threads run across the face of the garment, adjacent to an opening therein and in from the edge thereof, in zigzag lines and across each other and fastened to the garment at the points Where the diagonally extending portions of each cord or thread diverge whereby the Way or channel..

is formed With a closed back and open face and the garment stayed at diagonally opposite points throughout the length of the Way or channel along the line of each cord or thread, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I affix my sgnatu re in presence of tWo witnesses.

JOHN A. BENNETT. Witnesses:

JACOB A. BRooKs, HARRY S. HAWTHORN. 

